Huddleston, VA

At Smith Mountain Lake, Deb Beran Realty is often sought out by property buyers seeking a second home or retirement property near the water. Many times, these clients are managing a property search, purchase and construction from another Virginia location or state. Imagine being full-time in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C. or North Carolina and overseeing the building of your dream home - the place you will spend your retirement, the home you will welcome your children and grandchildren into for visits. We know it’s not easy and the stress can be a constant burden.

Fortunately, technology can help. With the availability of email, texting, FaceTime and Skype, among other social networking applications, long-distance communication is being used both personally and professionally - between builder and property owner, for example. A couple out of state is able to keep up with progress, make decisions and guide the home or dock building process happening at Smith Mountain Lake all from their computer or smart phone. A recent article in the local Laker Weekly newspaper illustrates this trend.

So if you’re looking to settle at Smith Mountain Lake but are deterred by distance, remember that with an excellent real estate representative and a flexible building contractor on your side, you can do anything through the World Wide Web.

Now that the temperatures are warming at Smith Mountain Lake, residents and seasonal guests will be flocking to the best locations at the lake for making the most of the summertime weather. One of these places is the sprawling Smith Mountain Lake State Park located in Huddleston county.

Like many state parks, the one at Smith Mountain Lake offers an array of amenities and recreational opportunities in a naturalistic, well kept acreage. The state park, only 40 miles from both Bedford and Roanoke, is 1,248 acres of swimming, camping, fishing, hiking, biking and picnicking bliss. The park borders the lake, boasting 500 acres of beach that is guarded and equipped with picnic pavilion, sand volleyball court, and restrooms. Elsewhere in the park is a camping site for tent to RV camping. 20 rental cabins ranging in size and equipped with many amenities are also available.

The park has 13 hiking trails, abundant wildlife, boat launch, boat rentals, hunting opportunities, a large fishing pier and much more. In addition to all these public offerings, the park staff operates a variety of naturalistic and historic educational programs throughout the year.

Smith Mountain Lake is a naturists’ dream and the Smith Mountain Lake State Park is one of the best spots to make the most of outdoor recreation in the area. For more information, visit the state park’s website: http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/smi.shtml

There is a new restaurant on Smith Mountain Lake, offering a new kind of dining experience; tapas-style dining. The Small Plates Restaurant offers small plates with BIG taste in Huddleston, VA. Located in Sportsman Marina, the restaurant opened on Memorial Day, and is going strong.

Tapas-style dining is very popular and usually can only be found in larger cities. The concept of this type of dining is to try various small, appetizer-sized dishes so you can enjoy several different flavors and foods at one time. Sharing tapas with a friend is highly encouraged! It allows the diner to experience new foods without fear. It is a great way to expand your culinary experience!

Small Plates also has both indoor and outdoor bars. The Dam Bar is located below the main dining area. Guests can enjoy music and dancing on Friday and Saturday evenings. The outdoor R11 Tiki Bar is on the shoreline, and serves lunch and dinner all week. The Tiki Bar is popular among boaters. It also has live music on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

The menu ranges from beef and poultry dishes, to seafood. Small Plates Chef Justin Fada, has been receiving rave reviews from customers. Owner Waller Perrow is also known to add his own dishes to the menu. He also has a culinary degree and has owned restaurants and bars before. He plans to keep the bar open year-round, adding holiday events to the calendar.

You can find some great food on Smith Mountain Lake. Being able to take the sailboat out to get dinner is one of the perks of living on the lake. If you want to relocate to Smith Mountain Lake area, call Vicki Millehan! She is a long-time resident, and your local real estate resource.

April showers bring May flowers and May flowers mean Mother's Day is just around the corner! If you are looking for a great way to tell Mom "thanks" for all the things she does, look no further than Bedford County, VA! From special Mother's Day Cruises on Smith Mountain Lake to a weekend enjoying the Bedford Wine Trail, you can find something to let Mom know she is special!

In case it is sneaking up on you, Mother's Day is May 9^th. You can spoil her with a 2 hour Mother's Day Cruise aboard the Virginia Dare replica sidewheeler. She can sit back, relax and enjoy a great lunch all while cruising the Lake! The excursion starts at 2pm and is booking up fast so make reservations soon!

If your mom needs a whole weekend to recuperate from a year of motherly duties, it may be time for her to spend some time on the Bedford Wine Trail. She can sample some of the best wines Virginia has to offer and then spend the evening relaxing by the waters of Smith Mountain Lake. You can throw in a Mariner's Getaway Package and a few spa treatments for good measure! You know your mom deserves it.

Of course the best present for that special lady in your life would be a beautiful waterfront home on Smith Mountain Lake! Come for a visit, if you like it then move here! Whether you are ready to become a permanent resident or buy a vacation home, call Vicki Millehan! She is your local real estate expert.

Just about anyone living on Smith Mountain Lake will tell you the climate is wonderful! While the lake does have four distinct seasons, the winters are usually mild and spring is very temperate. This all adds up to a great growing season for plants and flowers. For those who love to have their hands in the soil, Smith Mountain Lake has many plant nurseries and greenhouses where you can purchase your favorite blooms.

Just a little way down the road from Smith Mountain Lake is Hardy, VA. Here you can find Walter's Greenhouse. They boast one of the largest selections in the area as you can see by their plant list. Everything they sell, they have grown in their greenhouses. Besides selling at their own location, you can find them at the Roanoke City Farmer's Market. Don't forget to check out their selection of fresh herbs!

Now if you are looking for not only great plants, but the beautiful containers to grow them in, Lakescapes Nursery is the place to head. From amphora's to glazed pots of every shape and size, they will likely have just the container you are looking for. They also have a large selection of trees, shrubs and flowering plants.

For those who live right on the water, knowing what to plant can sometimes take on another consideration. There are regulations that outline what you can and cannot plant near the water's edge. If you need help creating a buffer garden that meets American Electric Power's shoreline requirements, Willowtree Nursery can help! You can have a gorgeous shoreline without the worry!

Landscaping your lot can add value to your property. These are just a few of the great nurseries in the area who can help. If you haven't had a chance to see the wonderful waterfront properties in the area, come for a visit, if you like it then move here! When you are ready to have your own waterfront property to landscape, call Vicki Millehan! Smith Mountain Lake's real estate resource!